Craniofacial bones development in albino rat fetuses following maternal exposure to low frequency electric and magnetic fields during early and late periods of embryogenesis

Abstract EN

Methods: Forty eight pregnant albino rats were randomly divided into two age groups (18 and 20 day) each of them was subdivided into three equal groups: control, early exposed and late exposed.

Both exposed groups were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field of intensity 1.5G and a strong electric field of intensity 1OKV/ m.

The EMFs exposure started from gestational day 6 through day 10 in the early exposed group and from gestational day 11 through day 15 in the late exposed group.

18 and20-day fetuses were then collected and their skeletons were stained with Alizarin red for their evaluation.

Results: The present study indicated that 50 Hz EMFs exposure decreased the craniofacial bones development either in the early or late exposed groups but more marked and more delayed in the early exposed group in 18-day fetuses.

The early period of embryogenesis was the most critical period for ossification of craniofacial bones.

Conclusions: So it is suggested that exposure to appliances that producing EMFs must be limited especially during early period of pregnancy